Going into Apple's event I thought I would be disappointed. Now that the dust has cleared, I seem to be one of the few not disappointed. If I was in on the development process of the iPad, this is the device I would have created, it's perfect for me, and probably many users like me.
Currently I have an iPhone 3GS, and an iMac. On my 3GS I messed with the AT&T system, and got a data only plan for the iPhone that is $42 a month with taxes. I use textfree unlimited and skype ($2.99 a month for unlimited calls) to make all of my texts and calls. I do all of my heavy lifting computer tasks on my imac, but I really wanted something on the go.
I've looked at the Macbook, Macbook Air, Macbook Pro 13" and 15". Sadly anything below the 15" can't edit 1080p movies without having a major slowdown. The Macbook Pro 15" is great, but it's $1700, relativity hefty, and still no blu-ray drive. The iPhone 3GS can't do much in terms of word processing, and similar everyday computing tasks.
There had to be something in between my iPhone 3GS and imac that I could take on the go, that didn't have an excessive cost. Well maybe a windows netbook. Except they really don't do much compared to a macbook. In comes the iPad. Now I can have a 1.5 lb. device with a 9.7" screen with a full sized touch screen keyboard to do everything of a computer minus heavy graphic design and movie making which I can handle at home. The iPad does everything that the 13" macbooks are capable of in a smaller package. Sadly macbooks can't do heavy graphic design and movie making.
The iPad has a 1GHz processor that embarrasses an iPhone 3GS or iPod Touch 3rd gen. Imagine the apps that are capable on this new device, how quick they will load, and how the ones already made will do. You can also add textfree unlimited, and skype. Plus you get 3G in three of the models for $30 when my iPhone plan costs $40, and iPod Touch doesn't have. Even data plans on macbooks are more expensive.
It's a beefed up iPhone that can handle most computer tasks, without having to spend excessively. Maybe macbooks should be cheaper or more powerful. Maybe iPhones should have more power, and cheaper data plans. Maybe netbooks should be capable of multi-touch features. Oh wait you can get an iPad.
Now it's true there is no camera, but if a terrible 3 megapixel camera and video with no zoom was included would that make this device any better. I've barely used the camera because the quality is laughable at best, and no zoom. Maybe a front facing camera for video conferencing or even skype, because it would have a feature I could brag about, but never use. Flash may be the one thing we're missing, but if you're going to sites that use flash, you need to check the App Store for apps that fill that need, and do it much better. Multi-tasking isn't included either which is a real tragedy because I could run a chat app at the same time as playing a game. We need multi-tasking for slow smart phones, the iPad has so much power for what it's running that app load times will be relatively non-existent.
The most important point is the price, it does everything a macbook can, which is surprisingly not as much as you would think, for half the price. It's way ahead of the iPhone without having a contract (which can't be emphasized enough). It does all netbook abilities, plus so much more. The iPad is better than expected. It may not be for everyone, but if you know how to use it, the iPad can be perfect for a lot of people.
